2014 Mitsubishi Mirage

[jigen]

So Mitsubishi is finally coming out with some new autos this year. One that caught my attention was the new Mirage.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/2014-mitsubishi-mirage-arrives-in-us-this-fall/

Looks aside, what do you think about this thing? Think it can help Mitsu? I used to enjoy the charm a lot of old Mitsubishi's had. Simple, barebones, but fun to drive vehicles.

This thing is said to get 37 MPG city and 44 MPG highway, with a combined rating of 40 MPG. Basically putting to shame micro-subcompacts like the Smart and Scion IQ but giving cargo space and room more similar to the Fiesta or Mazda2.

Mitsubishi hasn't announced a price yet, so I'd say that's the real deal breaker. I read Mitsubishi are building their cars 100% back in Japan now, so I don't know how this will affect the U.S. pricing. I would think that car would have to be in the $14k range to make an impact.

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: jigen
So Mitsubishi is finally coming out with some new autos this year. One that caught my attention was the new Mirage.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/2014-mitsubishi-mirage-arrives-in-us-this-fall/

Looks aside, what do you think about this thing? Think it can help Mitsu? I used to enjoy the charm a lot of old Mitsubishi's had. Simple, barebones, but fun to drive vehicles.

This thing is said to get 37 MPG city and 44 MPG highway, with a combined rating of 40 MPG. Basically putting to shame micro-subcompacts like the Smart and Scion IQ but giving cargo space and room more similar to the Fiesta or Mazda2.

Mitsubishi hasn't announced a price yet, so I'd say that's the real deal breaker. I read Mitsubishi are building their cars 100% back in Japan now, so I don't know how this will affect the U.S. pricing. I would think that car would have to be in the $14k range to make an impact.


Mitsu is a lost cause. Although I do like it as a simple A to B vehicle. I don't think it will sell well though, the average American consumer has simple forgotten about Mitsu.

 

[morepwr]

I didn't know Mitsubishi even still made cars!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I've read a few things on it, when converted to US figures ... it's been getting a LOT better than 44MPG highway. Some are saying into the 50s, 60s for highway MPG.

With that said, Mitsu is going to go the way of Isuzu and Suzuki before too long.

This would be a cheap, neat, low consumption A to B car ... but I'm not sure I'd buy a Mitsubishi and end up with them leaving and being stuck without parts.

If they could price it LESS than the Versa, it would probably sell well.

 

[GMBoy]

Kinda resembles a Chevy Spark.

 

[LeakySeals]

My sister has a 06 Endeavor. Nothing but 5k conventional $25 dealer oil changes. Just went over 100k. No problems so far. Nice running engine, smooth and stable for an SUV. She wants another Mitsubishi SUV, for her 100k is old. But with all the rumors of a US pullout shes giving other models a look.

 

[coolbird101]

Originally Posted By: morepwr
I didn't know Mitsubishi even still made cars!

I thought the same, didn't know they were still making passenger cars..

 

[VicVinegar]

Suzuki at least had a couple respectable car offerings. Mitsu can't say that, unless you include the Lancer Evolution, which is hardly going to save the bottom line.

 

[bepperb]

There is no way Mitsubishi can build cars in Japan and undercut anybody. Price leader cars like the Versa are built in Mexico where the currency exchange doesn't make production expensive.

And if this particular car isn't cheap I see no reason to buy it. How many people would tolerate a 1.2 liter 3 cylinder engine to gain 4 mpg. And that's 4mpg now, who knows what standard 1.8 liter 4 cylinder cars will be doing by the time this comes to market.

 

[Tdbo]

I'd say the car could only help Mitsubishi, if for no other reason that it is new product. The pricing of the vehicle will tell the rest of the story. If the economics of the production of it, can put it in competition with Versa or Spark, then they may have something.

However, who is going to sell it? Mitsubishi doesn't seem to have much of a dealer network anymore, except for those few dealers that got smacked in the 2008 dealer retraction, and needed something to put in their showrooms quick to stay in business.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Also - for anyone that lives in the snow belt you literally can not fit ANY snow tires on the car (even with 15'' wheels). Looked into that - that's a deal killer.

Originally Posted By: bepperb
There is no way Mitsubishi can build cars in Japan and undercut anybody. Price leader cars like the Versa are built in Mexico where the currency exchange doesn't make production expensive.

And if this particular car isn't cheap I see no reason to buy it. How many people would tolerate a 1.2 liter 3 cylinder engine to gain 4 mpg. And that's 4mpg now, who knows what standard 1.8 liter 4 cylinder cars will be doing by the time this comes to market.


Wouldn't a 3 cyl require a lot of balancing to get rid of NVH?


Originally Posted By: Tdbo
I'd say the car could only help Mitsubishi, if for no other reason that it is new product. The pricing of the vehicle will tell the rest of the story. If the economics of the production of it, can put it in competition with Versa or Spark, then they may have something.

However, who is going to sell it? Mitsubishi doesn't seem to have much of a dealer network anymore, except for those few dealers that got smacked in the 2008 dealer retraction, and needed something to put in their showrooms quick to stay in business.


The only Mitsubishi dealers we have around here are part of larger dealers. The one in Utica is part of a VW dealer (there may be one or two) and the one here in Syracuse is part of a dealer that sells pretty much everything under the sun.

They don't have enough volume to support a whole dealer network.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Also - for anyone that lives in the snow belt you literally can not fit ANY snow tires on the car (even with 15'' wheels). Looked into that - that's a deal killer.

Originally Posted By: bepperb
There is no way Mitsubishi can build cars in Japan and undercut anybody. Price leader cars like the Versa are built in Mexico where the currency exchange doesn't make production expensive.

And if this particular car isn't cheap I see no reason to buy it. How many people would tolerate a 1.2 liter 3 cylinder engine to gain 4 mpg. And that's 4mpg now, who knows what standard 1.8 liter 4 cylinder cars will be doing by the time this comes to market.


Wouldn't a 3 cyl require a lot of balancing to get rid of NVH?


Originally Posted By: Tdbo
I'd say the car could only help Mitsubishi, if for no other reason that it is new product. The pricing of the vehicle will tell the rest of the story. If the economics of the production of it, can put it in competition with Versa or Spark, then they may have something.

However, who is going to sell it? Mitsubishi doesn't seem to have much of a dealer network anymore, except for those few dealers that got smacked in the 2008 dealer retraction, and needed something to put in their showrooms quick to stay in business.


The only Mitsubishi dealers we have around here are part of larger dealers. The one in Utica is part of a VW dealer (there may be one or two) and the one here in Syracuse is part of a dealer that sells pretty much everything under the sun.

They don't have enough volume to support a whole dealer network.



If they did what Ford did for their 1.0L 3 cylinder ecoboost set to debut in the US fairly soon, they used weights on both the flywheel and on the serpentine belt crank pulley.

 

[NHGUY]

Had Mitsu stuck to what it did best...low cost,excellent economy subcompacts (Colt/Champ/Mirage) they would be in far better shape today.They let Mirage wither on the vine and finally killed it off in 2002 as a coupe,albeit with 32/40 mpg ratings.The 2002 Lancer lost the efficient 1.5 engine and went upmarket in both cost and hp.A 40 mpg Mitsu at that point has been absent for 10 years now.They have no idea what sells in America now,being hung up on crossovers and dropping coupes,sporty cars,larger cars....their electric car is a joke,the NEW Mirage is too small and dumpy...sorry,the Mitsu of 1985 was FAR more advanced than that one of today.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Had a justy - ran like a v6 except at idle. People like harley Davidon garbage so whay knott

I had a Subaru Justy and liked that and also an early 3 dr Chevy Sprint before GM ruined the chassis with a garbage IRS. Good cars. More fun than just A-B. A CAmry or a Taurus is an A-B car - not a light, fun ecobox.

Oh, BTW, I would agree Mitsu is near dead - and it's their own fault - though they just opened a new stealership near me in Stratham, NH. Would LUV a LAncer evo but there is no good premium fuel around me and the engine would be destroyed by bad fuel.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

I think they'd have to undercut their competitors pricing to get it to sell. If it's priced anywhere close to the Fit, Yaris, Fiesta, etc then it will probably be a flop since Mitsu pretty much has next to no brand recognition.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
I think they'd have to undercut their competitors pricing to get it to sell. If it's priced anywhere close to the Fit, Yaris, Fiesta, etc then it will probably be a flop since Mitsu pretty much has next to no brand recognition.


They'd have to price it below Spark and Versa in order for it to sell. If you want a cheap Hatchback, you have better ... if you want a cheap sedan ... you have the Versa.

It needs to be around $10K IMO in order for it to sell

 

[ARCOgraphite]

No such thing. The new Versa sedan is garbage. The mitsu will likely last for decades.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Wouldn't a 3 cyl require a lot of balancing to get rid of NVH?

NVH can be quelled to acceptable levels with a simple balance shaft and some fancy motor mounts.

The big problem is branding, as no one knows these folks anymore. They will have to significantly undercut their competition.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
No such thing. The new Versa sedan is garbage. The mitsu will likely last for decades.

I am not convinced that the new Mitsu will be better than the Versa.

I have dealt with so many Diamond-Matic transmissions that don't last, that I have some serious doubts. Also, I find the dashboards of older Mitsus completely shattered.

1980s Mitsubishi models were great, but so many things can happen to a car company after 3 decades. Just look at how far up Hyundai went!

 

[Spazdog]

Not going to save Mitsubishi.

It's not as funky cool as the Sonic and not as stylish and equipped as the Fiesta.

20 years ago, who would have believed that? Domestic B-segment cars are better than the new Mitsubishi.

The current Suzuki Swift is a better looking car and would probably outsell the Mirage. Suzuki didn't bring that over and it probably wouldn't have saved them anyway